Jacob Ostreicher

Jacob Ostreicher
Jacob Ostreicher in Santa Cruz, Palmasola Prison
Born (1959-02-07) February 7, 1959 (age 65)
Brooklyn, New York
Occupation(s)Businessman, investor
Parent(s)David Ostreicher
Violet Ostreicher

Jacob Ostreicher (born February 7, 1959) is an American businessman and investor. In June 2011, he was arrested in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, while overseeing a rice growing agricultural venture that he had invested in, and was jailed for 18 months on suspicion of money laundering, though he was never formally charged. Ostreicher maintained his innocence and stated that the allegations by the Bolivian government were "the scam of the century".[1][2] His family and friends initiated a public effort to plea for his release, and actor-activist Sean Penn visited Ostreicher in Bolivia and pledged to work for his release.

On December 18, 2012, Ostreicher was released from prison on $14,000 bail and placed under house arrest. Bolivian officials were later arrested for what authorities state was an extortion ring.[3][4] On December 16, 2013, Ostreicher arrived in the United States after 30 months in Bolivia. It was unclear how he managed to flee the country.

  1. ^ Moran, Terry (11 May 2012). "American Sits Almost a Year With No Charges in Isolated Bolivian Prison". ABC News - Nightline. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  2. ^ Lipman, Jennifer (May 3, 2012). "Rally to support Orthodox man jailed in Bolivia". THE JEWISH CHRONICLE ONLINE. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Bolivian Officials Arrested in Plot To Extort New York Businessman". The New York Times. Associated Press. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference officialsarrested was invoked but never defined (see the help page).